General Surgery Coding Alert - 2016 Issue 11
MACRA Implementation: CMS Announces Relaxed Implementation Plans for the Quality Payment Program in 2017
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Article Overview
This article covers CMS’s relaxed 2017 rollout approach for MACRA’s Quality Payment Program, including the broad participation pathways CMS described for the first performance year. It is relevant to clinicians, practice managers, and coding/billing professionals who need to understand the program’s timing, participation choices, and how CMS framed the early transition period. The article also references Advanced Alternative Payment Models and Medicare Shared Savings Tracks as part of the participation landscape.
Why This Topic Matters
The guidance affects how practices prepared for the first year of MACRA’s Quality Payment Program and how they understood the different ways to participate without penalty during the transition. It helps readers evaluate early compliance planning and payment-program readiness.
Article Sections
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Called Pick Your Pace, CMS Outlines Four Options
Introduces CMS’s more flexible 2017 approach to the Quality Payment Program and frames the four participation pathways discussed in the article.
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First Option: Test the Quality Payment Program.
Describes the first participation pathway and the general purpose of limited early submission during the initial program year.
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Second Option: Participate for part of the calendar year.
Summarizes the partial-year participation pathway and the types of program activities referenced for that option.
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Third Option: Participate for the full calendar year.
Covers the full-year participation pathway and the broader reporting period described for practices ready at the start of the year.
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Fourth Option: Participate in an Advanced Alternative Payment Model in 2017.
Explains the alternative participation pathway tied to Advanced Alternative Payment Models and the Medicare payment framework discussed in the article.
What You Will Learn
- How CMS framed the 2017 transition period for the Quality Payment Program
- What broad participation options were described for the first year of implementation
- How Advanced Alternative Payment Models fit into the program structure
- Why the 2017 rollout mattered for avoiding penalties and preparing for later performance years
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Clinicians
- Practice managers
- Medical billers
- Medical coders
- Revenue cycle staff
- Healthcare administrators
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